Report: Liverpool accept Lucas Leiva Lazio switch

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Sky Sports are reporting that Italian side Lazio have reached a £5million agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of Lucas Leiva. Personal terms for the 30-year-old will now need to be agreed, before the transfer to I Biancocelesti can be fully completed. Reds manager Jürgen Klopp will not get in the way of the Brazilian in a search for consistent first team football at the Stadio Olimpico – an opportunity Lucas has been lacking on Merseyside.

Lucas Leiva made 19 starts in all competitions in the 2016/17 season, and also netted against Plymouth Argyle in an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay. The midfielder has made 346 appearances for the Anfield side since his arrival from Brazilian outfit Gremio in 2007. Whilst he has had his peaks and troughs in his decade on Merseyside, what can not be undervalued is his leadership and experience in the side – attributes that can often go under the radar.

In the final year of his contact, Lucas has been considering various options for how to progress in his career. Inter Milan have been regularly linked in previous transfer windows, whilst a return to Gremio was also a distinct possibility. Heavily linked with a move away in January, the 30-year-old decided to stay put until the end of the season. Whilst his opportunities to play in defensive midfield were few and far between, Lucas did get opportunities to start as a centre-back, due to various injuries to Liverpool’s defensive players. His performances at centre-back were often mixed, but overall the Brazilian played an important role when called upon in Liverpool’s Premier League campaign; a campaign in which they ultimately achieved their primary objective of finishing in the top four.

Lucas has played for the Reds for 10 seasons. Whilst being an admirable servant to the club, his playing opportunities have been in decline for a number of years. Lazio may offer the Brazilian a much greater opportunity at consistent first team football in Serie A, as he looks to advance his playing career further.